With air travel curbed during Covid-19 period, the domestic service industry has been impacted as well.
Little to no travel means that there aren’t many domestic helpers arriving to seek work in Singapore. As for helpers who have served their terms, they also wouldn’t be able to return home in the near future, till restrictions are eased.
That’s where this new measure announced by Ministry of Manpower (MOM) comes in.
Domestic helpers’ work permits may now be cancelled via agencies’ help from Wednesday (20 May) even if a new employer hasn’t been found, reported The Straits Times on Sunday (17 May).
This is so that helpers may find alternative employment within Singapore, if households no longer require their service.
MOM had sent out the information in an “alert to employment agencies” 2 days ago, on 15 May.
After work permits have been cancelled, agencies will have a 14-day window to transition her to a new employer.
A 14-day Special Pass will grant the domestic helper candidate time to stay in Singapore where a new employer can be found.
If employment opportunities aren’t possible, the candidate must be “repatriated”, reports ST.
Previously, employers had to provide a “letter of consent” to allow helpers to apply for new work permits.
In the interim, they would also provide for the costs of helping the helper transition, if the helper had already left the household and re-joined the agency.
When the work permit was cancelled, employers also had to bear the costs of flying the helper back home.
Now, MOM has advised agencies & potential employers to help ensure transfers between local households are smooth, to avoid a shortage of manpower due to less incoming jobseekers.
In other words, if you are planning to hire a domestic worker soon, do work with your agencies to select candidates who are already in Singapore.
What do you think of MOM’s new measures with regard to domestic helpers? Do share your thoughts in the comments below.
Featured image adapted from Singapore Ministry of Manpower on Facebook.
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